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Flu shots will be available at the Smithville Senior Citizens Center on Thursday, October 2nd from 9:00 a.m. until 11:00 a.m.

Flu Vaccinations will also be administered at the Alexandria Senior Citizens Center on Friday, October 3rd from 9:00 a.m. until 11:00 a.m. and the Liberty Senior Citizens Center on Friday, October 3rd from 11:30 a.m. until 1:00 p.m. Please bring your insurance card.

Sponsored by the Family Medical Center.

Meanwhile, the DeKalb County Health Department will hold a flu shot clinic on Thursday, October 16th.

The Clinic will be open from 9:00 to 3:30 and will be located at First United Methodist Church Christian Fellowship Center, 102 West Church Street, Smithville, TN 37166. Adult and pediatric doses will be available.

Influenza vaccine can be given to individuals 6 months of age and older. It is recommended for anyone who wishes to reduce their risk of getting influenza; it is especially important for those who are at risk for complications from influenza and for those who live with or care for people at high risk. People who should get influenza vaccine are:

• All adults 50 and over

• All children 6 months to18 years of age, especially those under 5 and those with chronic health problems or asthma

• Anyone with a chronic health condition such as diabetes, heart disease or lung disease, or who has a weakened immune system

• Women who are or plan to be pregnant during flu season (October to March)

• Residents and staff of nursing homes or long term care facilities

• Caregivers and those who live with an infant aged less then 6 months

• All health care workers

• Anyone who has close personal contact with someone at high risk of complications from influenza

• Anyone who wishes to reduce their chances of getting influenza

The cost of the shot will be $25.00 for adults and $13.70 for children. The clinic will also offer pneumonia vaccine for a fee of $41.00. Pneumonia vaccine only needs to be given once to anyone over age 64 and is also important for younger adults with diabetes, heart disease and other chronic illness. It can help prevent the life-threatening bacterial pneumonia that can follow influenza. Payment will be taken at the clinic in the form of cash or check. Medicare and TennCare can also be billed. Please bring all your insurance cards with you. Correct change is preferred. Individuals attending the clinic need to wear a short sleeve shirt.

For more information please contact the DeKalb County Health Department at 615-597-7599.

Dewain Hendrixson currently leads in the "Fearless Forecaster" standings after five weeks of the season.

Hendrixson's record is 34-16.

Jeff James and Ricky Atnip are tied for second place each with a record of 32-18, followed by Roger Underhill and Chad Kirby, each with a record of 31-19, Tom Duggin 30-20, John Pryor 29-21, and Joe Goodwin 28-22.

The "Fearless Forecasters" pick who they believe will win in ten of the biggest or most interesting college football games of the week.

They also make an underdog selection each week, picking a team they think will win, even though that team is not favored to win.

Chad Kirby currently leads in the points standings in the underdog selections, after five weeks, with 39-1/2 points followed by Ricky Atnip 20-1/2, Joe Goodwin and Tom Duggin 18, John Pryor 13, Dewain Hendrixson 12, Jeff James 9, and Roger Underhill with 6 points.

The "Fearless Forecasters" can be heard LIVE on WJLE Thursday's at 4:30 p.m.

The Smithville Senior Citizen’s Center is partnering with the Internal Revenue Service to make sure that local retirees, disabled veterans and low-income workers get help filing for an economic stimulus payment.

Time is running out for nearly 92,000 Social Security and VA benefits recipients in Tennessee, including 333 in DeKalb Co., who appear to be eligible for a stimulus payment but have not yet filed a 2007 federal income tax return to claim their payment. They must file by Oct. 15 to get a payment this year.

The free return preparation will be offered for those who normally are not required to file but are filing this year only to claim a stimulus payment. The free help will be available Friday, Oct. 10 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the City Hall 2nd Floor, 104 East Main St., in Smithville.

Filers should bring: (1) Picture ID or other identity document, (2) verification of Social Security Number for all persons to be listed on the return, (3) Form 1099 or a benefits statement showing Social Security or VA benefits received in 2007 (or simply the amount received if no statement is available), (4) proof of any other income – taxable or nontaxable.

To qualify for a stimulus payment, filers must have at least $3,000 in wages, tips or salary or other qualifying income, which can include Social Security benefits, VA benefits, Railroad Retirement or nontaxable combat pay. SSI does not qualify.

People who normally do not have file a tax return may be eligible for the minimum payment of $300 ($600 for married couples) plus an additional $300 per eligible child under age 17.

Dependents and those who do not have a valid Social Security Number generally do not qualify for a stimulus payment.
The IRS reminds the public to watch out for stimulus payment scams. People who have already filed a 2007 federal return with the IRS do not need to file again. No one needs to complete or file any forms other than a 2007 federal income tax return to get a stimulus payment. Any e-mails, phone calls or letters that state otherwise are likely to be scams.

Tennessee Department of Economic and Community Development Commissioner Matthew Kisber announced that DeKalb County has achieved certification under the state’s Three-Star program.

“This designation is a sign of DeKalb County’s tremendous hard work, and I am proud to offer my congratulations,” Kisber said. “Strong community development is the basis for sustainable economic growth, and DeKalb County has demonstrated their commitment to improvement by accepting and meeting Three-Star’s challenging requirements. This dedication has yielded progress, and DeKalb County is more prepared than ever for long term success in the economic, and every other, arena.”

DeKalb and the cities of Smithville, Dowelltown, Liberty and Alexandria are now eligible to receive additional incentives under the guidelines of the Tennessee Three-Star program.

The Three-Star program has set high standards and incentives like no other state-run program in the nation. Governor Phil Bredesen’s five-year asset-based economic development strategic plan is the cornerstone of the program. In 2005, the Southern Growth Policies Board, a bipartisan public policy think tank devoted to strengthening the South's economy, recognized the Three-Star program as a best practices program and a Southern leader in community certification programs.

Tennessee’s Three-Star program helps urban and rural communities develop strategic economic and community development plans that meet the needs and challenges of an ever-changing economic environment. It helps communities preserve existing employment, create new employment opportunities, improve family income and develop a strong leadership base for economic development.

The Tennessee Three-Star Program, which is currently active in 89 counties and one city, represents more than 348 Tennessee cities, making this year’s participation the largest ever.

“It’s an honor for me to celebrate with DeKalb County in their achievement of Three-Star certification,” said ECD Assistant Commissioner of Community Development Rick Meredith. “DeKalb County is truly taking a strategic approach to economic development in their community, and its success in the Three-Star program is evidence that it is poised for marked growth. ECD is proud to provide support to this forward-thinking community.”

In order to receive the certification, communities are required to meet criteria in organizational, community, business, education and work force development categories. Incentives for receiving the certification include identification on all FastTrack infrastructure and job training applications; eligibility for matching grants, if criteria set by ECD are met; and the advantage of earning points in the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) program.

The DeKalb County Sheriff's Department has picked up another man on a sealed indictment returned by a special session of the Grand Jury last week in a burglary investigation.

Sheriff Patrick Ray says 27 year old Michael Chad Owens of Shady Drive Smithville was arrested for one count of aggravated burglary and one count of theft over $500. In June of this year, Owens forcibly entered a residence on Four Star Loop through a window and stole a Marlin 30-30 rifle and case along with various swords, daggers, and knives. The rifle has since been recovered. Owens bond was set at $50,000 and he will appear in court on October 24th.

Meanwhile, 36 year old Kenneth Travis Bond of Womack Road, McMinnville was arrested Friday for promotion of methamphetamine, possession of a schedule II drug (Methamphetamine), and possession of drug paraphernalia.

Sheriff Ray says on September 9th, Detectives were contacted by a local pharmacy that a man by the name of Kenneth Travis Bond was there to purchase pseudoephedrine. Officers obtained information, through the cooperation of local pharmacies, that Bond had been to at least four drug stores in DeKalb County to purchase pseudoephedrine. After purchasing pseudoephedrine from one of the pharmacies, Detectives observed Bond leaving the business in a 1997 Chevy 4x4 Z-71 pickup truck. The vehicle was stopped on Church Street in Smithville where detectives spoke to Bond and inquired about his purchasing quantities of pseudoephedrine here in DeKalb County. After receiving consent to search Bond's vehicle, officers found four sealed boxes of cold medicine containing pseudoephedrine. After continuing to search the vehicle, Detectives found a cloth zipper pouch containing several syringes, razor blades, plastic baggies, glass pipes, a tourniquet, a medicine bottle containing water, and a plastic baggie containing a white powdery substance believed to be methamphetamine. Also found in the console drawer of the vehicle was a bottle of water and two other syringes. After the completion of the investigation, Bond's 1997 Chevy was seized. Bond for Bond was set at $10,000 and he will appear in court on October 24th.

DeKalb County's unemployment rate for August was 6.6%, up from the rate of 6.2% in July and 4.3% in August 2007.

The DeKalb County Labor Force for August was 10,210. A total of 9,530 were employed and 680 were unamployed.

Tennessee's seasonally adjusted unemployment rate for August is at 6.6 percent, 0.2 percentage point lower than the July revised rate of 6.8 percent. The United States unemployment rate for the month of August was 6.1 percent.

County non-seasonally adjusted unemployment rates for August 2008, show that 78 counties decreased. The rate increased in 8 counties and remained the same in 9 counties.

Williamson County registered the state's lowest county unemployment rate at 4.7 percent, up 0.1 from the July rate of 4.6 percent. Perry County had the state's highest at 16.2 percent, down 3.3 from the July rate of 19.5, followed by Lauderdale County at 12.5 percent, down from 14.7 in July.

Knox County had the state's lowest major metropolitan county rate at 5.0 percent, down 0.5 percentage point from the July rate of 5.5 percent. Davidson County's rate increased to 5.6 percent, up 0.1 from the July rate of 5.5 percent. Hamilton County was at 6.1 percent, the same as July, and Shelby County was 7.2 percent, down 0.1 from the July rate of 7.3 percent.

Two people wanted by authorities in Indiana have been located living in Smithville.

Sheriff Patrick Ray says detectives from La Porte City Police Indiana contacted the DeKalb County Sheriff's Department Thursday about two fugitives living on Forrest Avenue in Smithville.

Sheriff Ray says deputies went to the address and arrested 34 year old Ryan K. Martin and 34 year old Marilyn Ann Fuller both of Forrest Avenue, Smithville. Martin had warrants on him for a failure to appear in court on a check deception, receiving stolen property, driving while suspended, battery, and a driving under the influence. These are Class "D" felonies. Fuller had a failure to appear in court on theft and receiving stolen property charges. Both are being held in the DeKalb County Jail without bond and will appear in court on October 2nd.

In another case, deputies arrested 25 year old Joseph Lee Merriman of Dale Ridge Road Dowelltown Friday for driving under the influence, simple possession of a schedule III drug (Hydrocodone), and possession of drug paraphernalia. Sheriff Ray says while on patrol, a deputy spotted a vehicle setting on the side of the roadway on Dale Ridge Road in Dowelltown. Upon checking the driver of the vehicle, the officer noticed the operator of the vehicle was passed out, had his foot on the brake, and had a green powdery substance around his nose. After awakening Merriman, Deputies asked him to exit his vehicle and noticed that he was unsteady on his feet and had slurred speech. Merriman submitted to field sobriety tasks which he failed. As officers were conducting a pat down search of Merriman, they found a metal container in his pocket. Inside the container were two pills believed to be Hydocodone and an ink pen that was cut off and possibly used for snorting the pills. Merriman was arrested. He was also issued a citation for violation of the implied consent law because he refused a blood test. Total bond for Merriman was set at $3,000 and he will appear in court on October 9th.

Meanwhile, on Sunday after being brought into the DeKalb County Jail by Smithville Police officers on drug charges, 43 year old Ricky Estes and 28 year old Cindy Lemons Estes, both of Whorton Springs Road, Smithville were found to have drugs on them. Correctional Officers, during the booking process, found a white pill in Ricky Estes' pocket believed to be Xanax. Cindy Estes was found to have a pill bottle in her body cavity containing three white pills believed to be Xanax and five orange pills believed to be Suboxone. Both subjects were charged with introduction of drugs into a penal institution where prisoners are housed. Bond for Ricky Estes was set at $5,000 and bond for Cindy Estes was set at $10,000. Both will appear in court on October 16th.

The Smithville Volunteer Fire Department hosted a dedication, open house, and ribbon cutting Saturday to commemorate the opening of the new fire hall downtown.

During his remarks during the dedication, Smithville Fire Chief Charlie Parker expressed his appreciation to his fellow firefighters for their committment, to past and present city administrations and aldermen, and to the citizens of Smithville for their support. "For the last several years, the Smithville Fire Department has tried to be an agreessive department, trying to build, grow, and expand our capabilities for the citizens of Smithville. This building is one of our accomplishments. We've managed to purchase several pieces of equipment over the last several years. This building is just another building block as we go forward."

Smithville Mayor Taft Hendrixson, who also spoke during the dedication, said he is proud of this new state of the art firehall and the firefighters who staff it. Mayor Hendrixson added that he is also pleased that the city did not have to borrow money to build it due to sound financial management for several years.

In an interview with WJLE on Friday, Parker says the new firehall provides space for fire trucks, offices, training rooms, and living quarters. "When we started this project, we were trying to expand the department so that we could have a building big enough to hopefully someday buy a truck with a ladder on it in order to reach some of the taller buildings in the city. So we made the building big enough on the bottom floor to house larger equipment as the city grows. We added three bays. We presently have four trucks so we're still utilizing the old part of the fire department downstairs. We changed the garage doors of the old fire hall to make it all match the new building. The bottom floor of the new building contains three new bays so we can get all of our trucks parked inside now. None of them have to set outside. It also gives us a little room for expansion in the future. We've made a room to hopefully have a washing machine in the near future for our turnout gear. We also have rooms for our offices and training upstairs. We had extra space so we made provisions to hopefully have some full time firefighters soon. There's a kitchen and a training room upstairs, along with bathrooms and showers. We've incorporated bunk rooms. We're trying to look to the future and possibly add some full time firefighters. We've got the building and the capability to do that now. We're real proud of the new fire hall."